New globe generators with extra customisation
Added 2020-10-30 05:00:02 +0000 UTCThanks to Flemming's suggestion of using the hull command, I've now made the openscad olive lamp generator much more versatile. It can create the lamps shown above by defining a base sphere size, a tip sphere size and the total height of the globe.
I've also added the facility to customise the base length, diameter and inner LED hole size.
Note that the hull command in the script results in MUCH longer processing times. Especially with the high numbers of facets in smooth globes. Experiment with small numbers of facets first. You may need to go and have a cup of coffee or tea while openscad renders smooth walled lamps with 100 or more facets.
http://www.bigclive.com/scad/autoglobe.scad
I also made a new version of the sphere lamp generator where the base customisation can also be used.
http://www.bigclive.com/scad/autoball.scad
These models are all hollow by default. Do not use vase mode or supports. A raft option may help with bed adhesion. Light coloured PLA looks surprisingly good when lit internally. Very reminiscent of retro light strings.
Small spheres will be easier for most printers to create, but the odd dropped strand or surface imperfection doesn't affect the appearance when lit.
I also tried these globes on a string of old tungsten lights with half-watt lamps. It looked pretty good, but not actually as good as diffused warm-white LEDs do. There's also a risk that the lamp heat may affect the plastic in some environments.
Comments
It works very well with coloured LEDs in white PLA or white (or coloured) LEDs in matching coloured PLA. It gives a very retro glass olive lamp look.
Big Clive
2020-11-21 06:59:46 +0000 UTCGreat - printing the Pifco style in clear PLA, but thinking of getting a few translucent colours to make a (sort of) replica set - ah childhood memories
RDM
2020-11-20 13:37:12 +0000 UTCHmm, I'm not sure 3d printed butt plugs are a good idea Clive!
2020-11-02 10:15:36 +0000 UTCVery cool! I'll print a couple of them and build myself another set of LED fairy lights
Basti Elektronik
2020-11-02 08:40:21 +0000 UTCAgreed Clive 😭glorious 🎁
Cerity
2020-10-31 06:57:00 +0000 UTCBeautiful
Michael Thompson
2020-10-31 01:38:44 +0000 UTCThe LED mount scales up with the base width to keep a printable LED suport cone, so I used a longer LED cylinder to allow for the largest diameter base I thought people might print. I could apply a little arithmetic to that to automatically compensate for size.
Big Clive
2020-10-30 16:14:42 +0000 UTCYeah, I copied and pasted the link from a previous post and changed the text, but it had also copied the original hyperlink. I just edited it to retype the full URL and deleted the original ones.
Big Clive
2020-10-30 16:10:49 +0000 UTCThat's what they're based on. Those big chunky Pifco style lights which I remember from the 60's.
Big Clive
2020-10-30 16:09:29 +0000 UTCI did find one small bug in autoball.scad - when I tried making a small diameter sphere (that 15mm spacing thing) - the cylinder that makes the hole in the LED dome also left one in the top of the sphere. Simple fix (reduce its height from 10 to 3 in my example, though I don't know if that will work for bigger sizes), but I thought I'd mention it.
2020-10-30 16:04:53 +0000 UTCboth Autoglobe.scad and Autoball.scad point to exactly the same file cabochon.scad in the email I recieved earlier but here on Patreon they point to different files
2020-10-30 15:50:06 +0000 UTCCareful Clive, don't want to repeat one guy one lightbulb.
2020-10-30 12:04:15 +0000 UTCI've printed light guides and clear lids for a project, and they work - but it was very fiddly to get perfectly clear. It took about 50 attempts. A thin coating of polyurethane spray is better than polishing the ends. I still have all the lids lying around and I wanted to write it up at some point. Maybe Christmas lights are that motivation...
2020-10-30 10:51:47 +0000 UTCThose coloured lamps remind me of the string of lights we had in the 1960's - 12 bulbs at 20 volts each all wired in series!
Mike Hughes
2020-10-30 08:44:25 +0000 UTCQuestion, could you print internal structures inside to change or add a different diffusion pattern? Could you print a basic light guide if you polished the end of guide after printing?
Lostngone
2020-10-30 08:08:11 +0000 UTCOoooh shiney. Do your LEDs cause point phosphorescence ❓ or does it glow evenly around
Cerity
2020-10-30 05:58:52 +0000 UTCIt's supposed to be biodegradable, but the effect is so slow that it shouldn't be an issue. I've not tried any outdoors yet.
Big Clive
2020-10-30 05:48:48 +0000 UTC44% in, quick question... How does PLA stand up to the external elements? i.e rain etc.
2020-10-30 05:45:22 +0000 UTCJust finished a set of the original olive ones out of GITD Pla. Guess I'll be making another set
Neil Tonks
2020-10-30 05:42:11 +0000 UTC
